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High-quality indoor air is essential in open-kitchen restaurants for ensuring a healthy workplace and comfortable conditions for visitors. In this study, indoor air quality interdependence between the kitchen and the dining zones in open-kitchen restaurants was analyzed. The method was based on measurements of selected air parameters using a sensor technique and mutual information (MI) analysis. A long-term approach (based on a several-hour time series) and a short-term approach (based on a several-minute time series) were applied. This study involved four open-kitchen restaurants. The indoor conditions were represented by the temperature, relative humidity, CO2 concentration, and content of the total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) in the air. The MI analyses showed that the long-term co-dependence of the indoor conditions between the kitchen and the dining zones was smaller during business hours (MI = 0.12 ÷ 0.40) compared to night hours (MI = 0.24 ÷ 0.58). The ranking of the long-term MI values for the individual air parameters was MICO2 (0.34) ≅ MIT (0.34) > MIRH (0.28) > MITVOC (0.23). The short-term interdependencies were smaller during night hours (median MI = 0.01 ÷ 0.56) compared to business hours (MI = 0.23 ÷ 0.61). Additionally, the short-term MI was subject to high temporal variability. The ranking of the short-term MI values for the individual air parameters was MICO2 (0.48) > MIT (0.46) > MIRH (0.37) > MITVOC (0.26). Due to the weak and highly variable co-dependence of the air parameters between the kitchen and dining areas, multi-zone monitoring of air parameters with an emphasis on TVOC measurements is recommended to ensure proper indoor conditions in open-kitchen restaurants. The presented approach may be applied to design indoor air quality monitoring and ventilation systems not only in open-kitchen restaurants but also in other interiors with functionally different zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is crucial for both industrial production and daily life. However, the non-reactive nature of VOCs and their low concentrations pose a significant challenge for developing sensors. In this study, we investigated the adsorption behaviors of typical VOCs (C2H4, C2H6, and C6H6), on pristine and Pt-decorated SnS monolayers using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Pristine SnS monolayers have limited charge transfer and long adsorption distances to VOC molecules, resulting in VOC insensitivity. The introduction of Pt atoms promotes charge transfer, creates new energy levels, and increases the overlap of the density of states, thereby enhancing electron excitation and improving gas sensitivity. Pt-decorated SnS monolayers exhibited high sensitivities of 241,921.7%, 35.7%, and 74.3% towards C2H4, C2H6, and C6H6, respectively. These values are 142,306.9, 23.8, and 82.6 times higher than those of pristine SnS monolayers, respectively. Moreover, the moderate adsorption energies of adsorbing C2H6 and C6H6 molecules ensure that Pt-decorated SnS monolayers possess good reversibility with a short recovery time at 298 K. When heated to 498 K, C2H4 molecules desorbs from the surface of Pt-decorated SnS monolayer in 162.33 s. Our results indicate that Pt-decorated SnS monolayers could be superior candidates for sensing VOCs with high selectivity, sensitivity, and reversibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new binuclear CuI cluster complexes based on mono-phosphine ligands, namely Cu2I2(p-Tol)3P3 (1) and Cu2I2(m-Tol)3P3 (2) (p-Tol = 4-methylphenyl, m-Tol = 3-methylphenyl), have been synthesized by the mechanochemical reaction of CuI with (p-Tol)3P (1) and (m-Tol)3P (2) in molar ratio 2:3. Two complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction and UV–Vis spectroscopic analysis. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that complexes 1 and 2 are binuclear cluster structures with two kinds of cuprous ions in tri- and tetra-coordination modes. They also show different supramolecular structures and different degrees of Cu‧‧‧Cu interaction. Based on TD-DFT calculation and analysis, the luminescence of these two clusters should be originate from the hybrid [(X + M)LCT] excited states. These two clusters show the sensing response modes of fluorescence enhancement and vapochromic fluorescence (including enhancement), respectively. The fluorescence sensing mechanism should be derived from the coordination reaction of pyridine vapor to tri-coordinated Cu of the clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floral scent is crucial for attracting pollinators, especially in plants that bloom at night. However, chemical profiles of flowers from nocturnal plants with varied floral morphs are poorly documented, limiting our understanding of their pollination ecology. We investigated the floral scent in Guettarda scabra (L.) Vent. (Rubiaceae), a night-blooming species with short- and long-styled floral morphs, found in the threatened pine rocklands in south Florida, US. By using dynamic headspace sampling and GC–MS analysis, we characterized the chemical profiles of the floral scent in both morphs. Neutral red staining was also employed to determine the specific floral regions responsible for scent emission in G. scabra. The results revealed that G. scabra's fragrance consists entirely of benzenoid and terpenoid compounds, with benzeneacetaldehyde and (E)-β-ocimene as dominant components. There were no differences in the chemical profiles between the long- and short-styled flowers. Staining assays indicated that the corolla lobes, anthers, and stigma were the primary sources of the scent. These findings indicate that G. scabra's floral scent is consistent with that of night-blooming plants pollinated by nocturnal hawkmoths, providing important insights into its chemical ecology and pollinator attraction. This study demonstrates how floral scent chemistry can validate predictions based on flower morphology in hawkmoth-pollinated plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is the most effective way to mitigate O3 pollution, which has increased over the past decades in China. From 2012 to 2017, special stainless-steel cylinders were used to collect ambient air samples from the urban area of Beibei district, Chongqing. Three-step pre-concentration gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to detect the collected air samples. The composition, concentration, photochemical reactivity, and sources of VOCs in Beibei were analyzed. During the observation period, the annual average VOC concentration was 31.3 ppbv, which was at an intermediate range compared to other cities in China. Alkanes (36.8%) and aromatics (35.6%) were the most abundant VOC groups, followed by halo-hydrocarbons (14.4%) and alkenes (12.6%). The overall trend of seasonal distribution of VOC concentration was high in summer and autumn, and low in winter and spring, with a statistically significant difference between summer and winter concentrations. The ozone formation potential (OFP) showed that alkenes were the most active species, followed by aromatics and alkanes, and summer was the season with the highest OFP (131.6 ppbv). Three major emission sources were identified through principal component analysis (PCA), i.e., vehicle exhaust emissions (66.2%), fuel oil evaporation (24.8%), and industrial sources (9.0%). To ameliorate the air quality within the study area, concerted efforts should be directed towards curtailing traffic emissions and mitigating the release of alkenes, particularly emphasizing more stringent interventions during the summer season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of urban morphology on air quality, particularly within deep canyons with longer residence times for complex chemical processes, remains insufficiently addressed. A flexible multi-box framework was used to simulate air quality at different canyon heights (3 m and 12 m). This approach incorporated essential parameters, including ventilation rates, background concentrations, photochemical schemes, and reaction coefficients. A field campaign within a deep canyon with an aspect ratio of 3.7, in Naples, Italy was conducted and used for the model evaluation. The model performance demonstrated good agreement, especially at the street level, when employing a realistic light intensity profile and incorporating volatile organic compound (VOC) chemistry. Our findings indicate that peroxyl radical production affects NO2 and O3 levels by up to 9.5% in deep canyons and underscore the significance of vertical distribution (approximately 5% variance) in health assessments and urban air quality strategy development. The model response was sensitive to changes in emissions as expected, but also, somewhat more surprisingly, to background conditions, emphasizing that policies to remove pollution hotspots must include local and broader citywide action. This work advances the understanding of air quality dynamics in deep urban canyons and presents a valuable tool for effective air quality management in intricate urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three varieties of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) water (CW) at two maturity stages were investigated for physicochemical and nutritional properties. The profile of phenolic compounds and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was determined by liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS), headspace solid‐phase microextraction‐gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (HS‐SPME‐GC‐MS), and headspace‐gas chromatography‐ion mobility spectrometry (HS‐GC‐IMS). Most of the properties of CW changed significantly with maturity rather than variety. The five most relevant phenolic compounds in CW were chlorogenic acid, 4‐hydroxy‐3,5‐dimethoxycinnamic acid, L‐epicatechin, and procyanidins B2 and B1. Variety played a more important role in phenolic composition than maturity, and Wenye No. 4 can be distinguished from other two varieties. Alcohols and esters were the main VOCs in CW identified by HS‐GC‐IMS and HS‐SPME‐GC‐MS, respectively. Five and four compounds (VIP scores > 1) were characteristic compounds for CW by HS‐GC‐IMS and HS‐SPME‐GC‐MS, respectively. The VOCs of Wenye Nos. 2 and 3 were more similar than those of Wenye No. 4. These findings could provide useful information for the selection of raw materials of CW used for different industrial purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The foam-blocking material formula was optimized through single factor and uniform mixing design experiment methods. The effect of foam material on blocking volatile organic compounds" VOCs) was estimated by VOCs release chamber combined with GC. The structure and stability of foam were characterized by dynamic foam analyzer. The result showed that the volatilization blocking rate of tetrachloroethylene- enemy-heptane and toluene by form was close to 100% within 5 hand the foam structure was stable after 5 h of foaming. The engineering application method of foam-blocking material was established through the engineering demonstration experiment on contaminated site. As the result showed that the foam block rate of VOCs pollutants was 98% within 5 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indole molecules as a signal has an important role in bacterial ecosystem, this study was aimed and conducted on the extraction and partial purification of indole from pathogenic E. coli and study several indole characterizations parameters compared with synthetic standard one. A total of 134 urine specimens and other stool 152 specimens were obtained from Al-Ramadi Hospitals, during the period from November / 2018 to March / 2019.The results show the percentage of isolated E. coli from Urinary tract infection was 100 (74.6%)/134, While 152 (100%)/ 152 are isolated from stool. Primary and secondary screening concluded, there are ten isolates are considered as the best in production of indole. The most producible one is selected with indole concentration 165.667 µM/ml. Also, indole production needs several optimal parameters to elevate its production, the study improved that the best pH is 9, temperature is 35 °C, incubation period is 18 hrs. and indole concentration is directly proportional with the amount of tryptophan added. Thin layer chromatography result reveals that no significant difference between extracted indole Rf 0.9 and 0.91 of synthetic standard one. Fourier-Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy, the results show there are some differences in the analysis in some structural positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In fungi, little is known about connections between volatile organic compound (VOC) formation and developmental stages that are amongst others triggered by fruiting-related genes (FRGs). We analysed the volatilomes of Schizophyllum commune during different developmental stages in a variety of FRG-deletion strains and wild-type strains. The deletion strains Δtea1Δtea1, Δwc-2Δwc-2 and Δhom2Δhom2 were unable to develop fruiting bodies, and Δfst4Δfst4 formed only rudimentary fruiting body structures. Early developmental stages of these strains were dominated by esters, including methyl 2-methylbutanoate, ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, isobutyl 2-methylpropionate, and 2-methylbutyl acetate, of which the last three were not found in the headspace (HS) of the wild-type samples. Compared to the wild type, in the HS of hom2con samples, that are able to form fruiting bodies, methyl 2-methylbutanoate was the most abundant substance at early stages (68–81% of the total peak area). In contrast to fruiting body forming strains, Δtea1Δtea1, Δwc-2Δwc-2, Δhom2Δhom2 and Δfst4Δfst4 showed less sesquiterpenes in the HS. However, the sesquiterpenes found in the HS of FRG-deletion strains, namely, (E)-nerolidol, δ-cadinene, L-calamenene, α-bisabolol and β-bisabolene, were not present in hom2con or wild-type strains that mainly formed fruiting bodies and barely mycelium. Several sesquiterpenes, including α-guaiene, chamigrene and γ-gurjunene, were only found in presence of fruiting bodies. Our results show remarkable connections between FRGs, fruiting body development and VOC production in S. commune, especially counting for sesquiterpenes. Future studies are needed to reveal whether FRGs directly regulates VOC formation or indirectly by changing the phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the levels of benzene and the potential health impact during three years of continuous monitoring (2019–2021), including the COVID-lockdown period from 2020 in a city that is an important Romanian center for petroleum refining and associated product manufacturing. The dataset contains benzene, toluene, NOx, PM10 concentrations, and meteorological factors monitored by six automatic stations from the national network of which four are in the city and two outside. Special attention was given to the benzene dynamics to establish patterns related to the health impact and leukemia. An assessment of the exposure was performed using EPA's ExpoFIRST v. 2.0 for computing the inhalation Average Daily Dose (ADD) and Lifetime Average Daily Dose (LADD). The health impact was estimated based on several indicators such as lifetime cancer risk (LCR), Hazard Quotient (HQ), Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY), and Environmental burden of disease (EBD). Overall, the annual average of all stations was almost similar between years i.e., 3.46 in 2019, 3.41 in 2020, and 3.63 µg/m3 in 2021, respectively. The average of all stations during the lockdown period was 2.67 µg/m3, which was lower than the multiannual average of the 2019–2021 period, i.e., 3.5 µg/m3. Significant correlations were present between benzene and other pollutants such as NOx (r = 0.57), PM10 fraction (r = 0.70), and toluene (r = 0.69), and benzene and temperature (r = −0.46), humidity (r = 0.28), and wind speed (r = −0.34). Regarding the ADD, in all scenarios, the most affected age categories are small children, despite a lower outdoor exposure time. From birth to <70 years, the ADD varied depending on the exposure scenario resulting in 3.27 × 10−4, 5.6 × 10−4, and 4.04 × 104 mg/kg-day, and 3.95 × 10−4, 10.6 × 10−4, and 6.76 × 10−4 mg/kg-day for the LADD, respectively. The Integrated Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILTCR) values were 14.1 × 10−5 in winter, 9.04 × 10−5 in spring, 8.74 × 10−5 in summer, and 10.6 × 10−4 in autumn. The ILTCR annual averages were 1.08 × 10−4 (2019), 1.07 × 10−4 (2020), 1.04 × 10−4 (2021), and 1.06 × 10−4 for the entire period. The resulting ILTCR values point out very risky conditions, with the annual averages reaching the definite cancer risk category. The corresponding burden based on the DALY's loss due to leukemia in Ploieşti was estimated at 0.291 (2 μg/m3 benzene), 0.509 (3.5 μg/m3 benzene), 0.582 (4 μg/m3 benzene), and 0.873 DALYs per 100,000 inhabitants (6 μg/m3 benzene), respectively. The current study provides useful insights for a better understanding of the exposure levels to benzene and associated health impact in Ploieşti despite the limitations determined by the data hiatus and incomplete or missing information regarding the health impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the adsorption performance of activated carbon can effectively reduce the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this paper, the influences of pore size, functional groups, and water molecular content on the adsorption for four gasoline evaporation VOCs (n‐butane, n‐hexane, p‐xylene, and ethanol) were investigated in terms of equilibrium adsorption capacity and threshold pressure by molecular simulation. The simulation results show that capillary condensation can increase the equilibrium adsorption capacity of gas, while functional groups and water molecules will reduce the effective adsorption volume of activated carbon. On the other hand, the threshold pressure depends primarily on the interaction energy and the number of adsorption sites. The superposition effect of the adsorption force field makes the lowest threshold pressure of four VOCs. The threshold pressure of n‐butane, n‐hexane, and p‐xylene is increased by the presence of functional groups and water molecules, while functional group modification and a certain amount of water molecules can improve the adsorption capacity of ethanol at low pressure. The results of the study can provide a reference for the selection of activated carbon in vehicle carbon canisters and the development of high‐performance activated carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling the indoor air (volatile organic compound) VOCs concentration plays an important role in creating a healthy and comfortable living environment. Comparing several VOCs purification measures, solid adsorption is found to be a promising air cleaning method for civil buildings, which have diverse VOCs pollutants. For solid adsorption technology, absorbance is the key to its air-cleaning performance. Compared with traditional adsorbent materials, (metal–organic frameworks) MOFs have excellent physical parameters and are promising adsorbent materials. In this paper, the synthesis and adsorption mechanisms underlying several metal–organic frameworks are summarized. The exploration and experiment measurements of VOCs adsorption performance according to the metal–organic frameworks are summarized. The exploration of these materials' stability during air cleaning is reviewed. Finally, some application examples of metal–organic frameworks for VOCs adsorption are given. This literature review demonstrates that metal–organic frameworks can be promising adsorbents for indoor air cleaning. The green synthesis methods, stability, adsorption performance under low concentration and diverse VOCs conditions, and application methods for metal–organic frameworks should be further researched before their large-scale application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released along with soil disturbance during the remediation of abandoned industrial sites have attracted great attention due to their possible toxicity and odour. However, the real-time emission characteristics of these VOCs and their subsequent effects on health and olfaction are less understood. In this study, the gaseous VOCs released from soil disturbance by excavators and drilling rigs at an abandoned chemical pesticide plant were monitored online with a laboratory-built single photoionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (SPI-TOFMS). Twelve main VOCs with total mean concentrations ranging from 2350 to 3410 μg m−3 were observed, with dichloromethane (DCM) having a significant contribution. The total concentrations of the remaining 11 VOCs increased substantially during soil disturbance, with the total mean concentrations increasing from 18.65–39.05 to 37.95–297.94 μg m−3 and those of peak concentrations increasing from 28.46–58.97 to 88.38–839.13 μg m−3. This increase in VOC concentrations during soil disturbance leads to an enhanced heath risk for on-site workers. The distinctive difference between the mean and peak concentrations of VOCs indicates the importance of using mean and peak concentrations, respectively, for risk and olfactory evaluation due to the rapid response of the human nose to odours. As a result, the cumulative noncarcinogenic risk at the relatively high pollutant plot was higher than the occupational safety limit, while the total carcinogenic risks at all monitored scenarios exceeded the acceptable limit. Among the VOCs investigated, DCM and trichloroethylene (TCE) were determined to be crucial pollutants for both noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of VOCs. With regard to olfactory effects, organic sulphides, including dimethyl disulphide (DMDS), dimethyl sulphide (DMS), and dimethyl trisulphide (DMTS) were identified as dominant odour contributors (78.28–92.11%) during soil disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are an important link that mediates chemical communication between plants and plants, plants and insects, and plants and natural enemies of insect pests. In this study, we tested the response in the selective behavior of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, to the VOCs of kidney bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L., to explore their "attraction" or "repellent" effects regarding their application in integrated pest management (i.e., IPM). The results indicated that 12.7 μL/mL (E, E, E, E)-squalene, 3.2 μL/mL dioctyl phthalate, and 82.2 μL/mL ethyl benzene had a significantly attractive effect on the selective behavior of F. occidentalis, while 10.7 μL/mL and 21.4 μL/mL 2,6-ditert-butyl-4-methyl phenol had a significantly repulsive effect on the selective behavior of F. occidentalis, showing that F. occidentalis responds differently to specific concentrations of VOCs from P. vulgaris plant emissions. Interestingly, the three compounds with the specific above concentrations, after being mixed in pairs, significantly attracted F. occidentalis compared to the control treatment; however, the mixture with the three above compounds had no significant different effect on F. occidentalis compared to the control treatment. It can be seen that the effect with the mixtures of three kinds of VOCs had the same function and may not get better. Simultaneously, the reasons for this result from the transcription levels of odorant-binding protein genes (OBPs) were determined. There were differences in the types and transcription levels of OBPs, which played a major role in the host selection behavior of F. occidentalis under the mixed treatment of different VOCs. It is presumed that there are specific VOCs from P. vulgaris plants that have a good repellent or attracting effect on the selective behavior of F. occidentalis, which can be used for the development of plant-derived insect attractants and repellents to serve as IPM in fields. But attention should be paid to the antagonism between plant-derived preparations and VOCs produced by plants themselves after application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analytical solution for a one‐dimensional and steady‐state model is proposed to investigate the diffusion of VOCs within landfill capillary cover systems under unsaturated water flow and stable conditions. Examples of coupled water flow and VOCs diffusion are evaluated by the proposed analytical solution to discuss the effects of the evaporation rate and clay thickness. The proficiency of the unsaturated cover system in minimising VOC emissions was also investigated. It was found that the non‐uniform distribution of water content can cause one order of magnitude reductions in the effective diffusion coefficient of VOCs, resulting in the attenuation of VOCs in the cover system. The concentration profile of VOCs is lower for the case with a larger evaporation rate. Ignoring the non‐uniform distribution of water content induced by water flow would underestimate the surface flux of VOCs by a factor of 1.8. The water content and VOC concentration in the cover system can be effectively diminished with the thickness of the clayey layer increasing. The surface flux of VOCs is considerably decreased with increasing thickness of clayey layer. Increasing the thickness of clayey layer from 0.2 to 1 m leads to a reduction in the surface flux of VOCs by a factor of 2.9. The sensitivity analysis provides further insights into the critical role of water flow in affecting VOC transport through the unsaturated cover system. The outcomes highlight that the impacts of unsaturated water flow within the covering system should be considered for assessment of VOC emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Soil microbes can produce organic volatiles in both aerobic and anaerobic environments. • Bacterial volatile compounds of various chemical types are often formed by catabolic processes. • Enhancing plant development, abiotic stress tolerance and disease resistance may also be caused by microbial VOCs. • The influence of microbial volatiles on plant growth induction is an attractive field of study that has so far been explored. The increase in population and food demand has led to the excessive utilization of chemical fertilizers. These fertilizers, in turn, affected the soil properties and decreased the fertility of the soil. The side effects of these chemicals have forced scientists to focus on plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) for sustainable farming. Some microbes and plants have a mutual relationship, and they use to help each other in various ways Rhizobacteria that promote plant growth enhance health of the plant and growth by increasing nutrient accessibility and assisting plants during abiotic and biotic stress. By direct or indirect mechanisms, the bacterial releases of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are crucial in boosting plant development and disease resistance. The release of a range of low-molecular weight hydrocarbons, including the growth-promoting volatile organic compounds, 3‑hydroxy-2-butanone (acetone), 2,3-butanediol, 2-pentylfuran, or dimethylhexadecylamine, was found by chemical analysis of bacterial volatile emissions. The plants provide nutrients and shelter to the microbes. Therefore, PGPRs play a vital role in sustainable agriculture In this review, the mechanism of action of VOCs for growth promotion and how they trigger the plant defense mechanism during biotic and abiotic stress will be addressed.This review will addressthe mechanism of action of VOCs for growth promotion and how they trigger the plant defense mechanism during biotic and abiotic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of industries, the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by various chemical projects has been deteriorating the surrounding ecological environments and health of human being. Photocatalysis is an economic approach to solve environmental problems by using light irradiation to kick off chemical reactions under the action of photocatalysts. Owing to a narrow band gap, suitable redox potential, and high chemical stability, graphite carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) has been widely adopted for performing cost-effective photocatalysis. However, the rapid recombination of electrons (e−) and holes (h+) on pure g-C 3 N 4 leads to its poor photocatalytic activity. To alleviate this shortcoming, g-C 3 N 4 has been reported in composite form (doped with other nanomaterials: carbon, metal, oxide, ion doping etc.) Herein, we review detail research progress of four g-C 3 N 4 -based photocatalytic nanocomposites for the degradation of VOCs. Finally, we propose a scope for future research work for fabricating advanced g-C 3 N 4 -based heterostructure composite photocatalysts to treat VOCs admission. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spike protein (S) of SARS‐CoV‐2 is the major target of neutralizing antibodies and vaccines. Antibodies that target the receptor‐binding domain (RBD) of S have high potency in preventing viral infection. The ongoing evolution of SARS‐CoV‐2, especially mutations occurring in the RBD of new variants, has severely challenged the development of neutralizing antibodies and vaccines. Here, a murine monoclonal antibody (mAb) designated E77 is reported which engages the prototype RBD with high affinity and potently neutralizes SARS‐CoV‐2 pseudoviruses. However, the capability of E77 to bind RBDs vanishes upon encountering variants of concern (VOCs) which carry the N501Y mutation, such as Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Omicron, in contrast to its performance with the Delta variant. To explain the discrepancy, cryo‐electron microscopy was used to analyze the structure of an RBD–E77 Fab complex, which reveals that the binding site of E77 on RBD belongs to the RBD‐1 epitope, which largely overlaps with the binding site of human angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (hACE2). Both the heavy chain and the light chain of E77 interact extensively with RBD and contribute to the strong binding of RBD. E77 employs CDRL1 to engage Asn501 of RBD and the Asn‐to‐Tyr mutation could generate steric hindrance, abolishing the binding. In sum, the data provide the landscape for an in‐depth understanding of immune escape of VOCs and rational antibody engineering against emerging variants of SARS‐CoV‐2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In ordor to deeply explore the research progress of the prevention and control of odor pollution in China, the relevant research and policy standards of odor pollution in China were researched. The results showed that: The initial study of odor pollution in China was related to the promulgation of national odor discharge standards. The outbreak period might be closely related to the introduction of water pollution and volatile organic compounds pollution control policies. The release of the policy has vigorously promoted the research of odor pollution in black and odorous water bodies and odor pollution related to VOCs; the main research topics of malodorous substances in China focused on hydrogen sulfide, volatile organic compounds, thiols, ammonia, sulfide, amines, benzene series, sulfur ether, aldoones and other widely distributed components with low olfactory threshold; the main monitoring technologies were triangle odor bag method, GC-MS and electronic nose test method; the main odor treatment technologies were microbial treatment method, adsorption method, absorption method, plasma catalytic method, catalytic combustion and deodorant; there were difficulties and pain points in management and technology in the prevention and control of odor pollution in China. Future research on odor pollution could focus on the perception of residents, supporting the control of odor pollution in China from the two aspects of policy management and techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to illustrate pollution characterization, source apportionment, and risk assessment of VOCs in Beijing, Baoding, and Shanghai, field observations of CO, NO, NO2, O3, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were conducted in 2019. Concentrations of VOCs were the highest in Beijing (105.4 ± 52.1 ppb), followed by Baoding (97.1 ± 47.5 ppb) and Shanghai (91.1 ± 41.3 ppb). Concentrations of VOCs were the highest in winter (120.3 ± 61.5 ppb) among the three seasons tested, followed by summer (98.1 + 50.8 ppb) and autumn (75.5 + 33.4 ppb). Alkenes were the most reactive VOC species in all cities, accounting for 56.0%, 53.7%, and 39.4% of ozone formation potential in Beijing, Baoding, and Shanghai, respectively. Alkenes and aromatics were the reactive species, particularly ethene, propene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, and m/p-xylene. Vehicular exhaust was the principal source in all three cities, accounting for 27.0%, 30.4%, and 23.3% of VOCs in Beijing, Baoding, and Shanghai, respectively. Industrial manufacturing was the second largest source in Baoding (23.6%) and Shanghai (21.3%), and solvent utilization was the second largest source in Beijing (25.1%). The empirical kinetic modeling approach showed that O3 formation was limited by both VOCs and nitric oxides at Fangshan (the suburban site) and by VOCs at Xuhui (the urban site). Acrolein was the only substance with an average hazard quotient greater than 1, indicating significant non-carcinogenic risk. In Beijing, 1,2-dibromoethane had an R-value of 1.1 × 10−4 and posed a definite carcinogenic risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biohydrogen from endophytic fungi constitutes an alternative biofuel resource with considerable advantages over biodiesel and ethanol extracted from existing food crops. Endophytes common in plant tissues mimic host physiological behavior and produce primary and secondary metabolites like oils and fats. Therefore, endophytes from 7 selected biodiesel plants, and 30 endophytic fungi isolated from 170 different plant parts were screened. The methodology included staining, lipid analysis, DNA isolation, molecular characterization, identification of fungal isolates by ITS sequences, biodiesel analysis, characterization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and statistical analysis. The fungal endophyte isolate SPSRJ28 was the most significant with an accumulation capacity of more than 20% of the total lipid content of its dry biomass, validating its oleaginous nature. In addition, the endophytes investigated in the present study yielded various VOCs that were validated by chromatography for both standards and isolates. When the VOCs were subsequently analyzed for their prospective usage as myco‐diesel, the presence of methane in the isolate SPSRJ28 was found to be highly significant. These findings remarkably support the investigation of endophytic fungi and their relationship with oleaginous plants as alternative sources of bioactive metabolites from microbial cell factories for myco‐diesel generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) is a rare condition associated with COVID-19 affecting children, characterized by severe and aberrant systemic inflammation leading to nonspecific symptoms, such as gastrointestinal, cardiac, respiratory, hematological, and neurological disorders. In the last year, we have experienced a progressive reduction in the incidence and severity of MIS-C, reflecting the worldwide trend. Thus, starting from the overall trend in the disease in different continents, we reviewed the literature, hypothesizing the potential influencing factors contributing to the reduction in cases and the severity of MIS-C, particularly the vaccination campaign, the spread of different SARS-CoV-2 variants (VOCs), and the changes in human immunological response. The decrease in the severity of MIS-C and its incidence seem to be related to a combination of different factors rather than a single cause. Maturation of an immunological memory to SARS-CoV-2 over time, the implication of mutations of key amino acids of S protein in VOCs, and the overall immune response elicited by vaccination over the loss of neutralization of vaccines to VOCs seem to play an important role in this change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthracnose disease is a serious threat to red pepper crops in Korea and many other countries, resulting in considerable yield losses. There are now no effective control techniques available except for fungicide sprays, which may directly impact consumers. This study aims to investigate the biological activity of Trichoderma isolates in controlling red pepper anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum acutatum in vitro and in the field. Out of 11 Trichoderma isolates screened for biocontrol agents against three fungal pathogens, including C. acutatum; two effective Trichoderma isolates, T. atroviride ATR697 (ATR697) and T. longibrachiatum LON701 (LON701) were selected for further investigation. Using the overlapping plates experiment, it was discovered that the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by ATR697 strongly inhibited C. acutatum mycelial growth to a larger extent than the isolate LON701. A cellophane membrane experiment has shown that mycelial growth of C. acutatum was inhibited by 36% and 27% when treated with ATR697 and LON701, respectively. Culture filtrates (CFs) of two Trichoderma isolates inhibited the mycelial growth of C. acutatum in vitro. When red peppers were treated with spore suspensions of LON701 and ATR697, the disease severity (%) was 44.1% and 55.8%, respectively, in a curative method; while the disease severity (%) was 5% and 11.6%, in LON701- and ATR697-treated red peppers, respectively, in a preventive method. These results showed the suppression of disease severity (%) was relatively higher in the preventive method than in the curative method. Furthermore, Trichoderma isolates ATR697 and LON701 were resistant to commercial chemical fungicides in vitro, indicating these strains may also be used synergistically with a chemical fungicide (pyraclostrobin) against the growth of C. acutatum. There was no difference in the inhibition rate (%) of the pathogen between the treatment with LON701 alone and LON701 +pyraclostrobin. Based on in vitro findings, ATR697 and LON701 played a role in effectively controlling red pepper anthracnose in field conditions, with LON701 treatment resulting in a disease rate of 14% when compared to ATR697, chemical, and non-treated controls. Overall, our study showed the ability of Trichoderma isolates to control red pepper anthracnose and their potential to develop as novel biocontrol agents to replace chemical fungicides for ecofriendly, sustainable agriculture [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are prominent air pollutants, hazardous to human health and the environment. Sunlight is a sustainable energy source capable of meeting the demands for heterogeneous catalysis. Photothermal catalysis has emerged as an energy‐efficient technology for VOCs oxidation by merging the advantages of thermochemistry and photocatalysis. This review examines the advantages of the photothermal catalytic system, such as the absorption and conversion of solar light, accelerated reaction rates, and improved product selectivity. The photothermal catalytic system is clearly categorized according to the significant contributions of light and thermal energy to the reaction. As a result of the direct conversion of photons into thermal energy to surpass the light‐off temperature and drive the catalytic reaction, an ample discussion of light‐induced thermal catalytic processes is presented. Furthermore, the participation of the localized surface plasmon resonance effect and oxygen vacancies in the surface reaction under irradiation and thermal energy are spotlighted. A comprehensive discussion is provided for the various photothermal active nanostructures. The underlying superior resistance mechanism to water vapour and coke formation as well as high oxygen concentrations in photothermal catalytic system are emphatically highlighted. Finally, current research trends and prospects are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the potential risks to food safety, headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and headspace gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) were used to analyze the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated from chilled chicken contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus during early storage. Together with the KEGG database, we analyzed differential metabolites and their possible biotransformation pathways. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was applied to characterize VOCs and identify biomarkers associated with the early stage of chicken meat contamination with S. aureus. The results showed 2,6,10,15-tetramethylheptadecane, ethyl acetate, hexanal, 2-methylbutanal, butan-2-one, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, 3-methylbutanal, and cyclohexanone as characteristic biomarkers, and 1-octen-3-ol, tetradecane, 2-hexanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, and ethyl 2-methylpropanoate as potential characteristic biomarkers. This provides a theoretical basis for the study of biomarkers of Staphylococcus aureus in poultry meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Petroleum Refinery Engineering is the property of Petroleum Refinery Engineering Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may have short‐ and long‐term adverse health effects. Especially, aromatic VOCs including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) are important indoor air pollutants. Developing highly efficient porous adsorbents with broad applicability remains a major challenge. In this study, a perchlorinated covalent‐triazine framework (ClCTF‐1‐400) is prepared for adsorbing BTEX. ClCTF‐1‐400 is confirmed as a partially oxidized/chlorinated microporous covalent triazine framework through a variety of characterization. It is found that ClCTF‐1‐400 is reversible VOCs absorbent with very high absorption capacities, which can adsorb benzene (693 mg g−1), toluene (621 mg g−1), ethylbenzene (603 mg g−1), o‐xylene (500 mg g−1), m‐xylene (538 mg g−1), and p‐xylene (592 mg g−1) at 25 °C and their saturated vapor pressure (≈ 1 kPa). ClCTF‐1‐400 is of higher adsorption capacities for all selected VOCs than activated carbon and other reported adsorbents. The adsorption mechanism is also inferred through theoretical calculation and in‐site Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The observed excellent BTEX adsorption performance is attributed to the multiple weak interactions between the ClCTF‐1‐400 frameworks and aromatic molecules through multiple weak interactions (CH...π and CCl...π). The breakthrough experiment demonstrates ClCTF‐1‐400 has the potential for real VOCs pollutant removal in air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemistry of plants represents a taxonomic and phylogenetic value. Researchers have recently used volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for taxonomic studies. The present work analysed and determined, for the first time, the usefulness of floral volatile compounds in the taxonomy of two species of Rhamnus sect. Alaternus, as well as the hybrid between these taxa. The two species show significant quantitative and qualitative differences. The terpenes linalool, ocimene, caryophyllene, and green volatiles are exclusive to Rh. alaternus, while farnesene (terpene), methyl salicylate and methyl benzoate (benzoids) are obtained from Rh. ludovici-salvatoris. Both volatilomes were attractive to Hymenoptera pollinators; therefore, these pollinators could serve as the main hybridisation vector. In addition, Rh. alaternus shows greater chemical and genetic heterogeneity than Rh. ludovici-salvatoris. Hybrids between the two species, Rh.xbermejoi, are closer in chemical similarity to Rh. alaternus than Rh. ludovici-salvatoris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice blast and BLB diseases caused by Pyricularia oryzae and Xanthomonas oryzae respectively has a significant impact on rice yield and quality worldwide. Biological disease control has been shown to be one of the most effective ways to manage rice diseases. The present study was conducted at Rice Research program, CSI, NARC, Islamabad to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo management of BLB and rice blast diseases by Trichoderma harzianum. T. harzianum inhibits almost 58% mycelial growth of the P. oryzae and 50% colony growth of X. oryzae. Effect of T. harzianum on seed germination was observed on agar media at three different concentrations (106, 108, and 1010). T. harzianum at concentration of 1010 showed enhancement of plant growth; the maximum root length augmented from 38 to 47% and the shoot length was 15 % in KSK-434 and 44% in other three varieties as compared with control. Plant growth were examined under the impact of Volatile Organic compounds of T. harzianum. Root and shoot length were increased 24 to 48% and 15 to 39%, respectively compared with control. In the in vivo management, T. harzianum applied on the rice plants sown in pots. The disease pathogens Xanthomonas oryzae and Pyricularia oryzae were inoculated in rice plants, T. harzianum controlled the diseases at two concentrations i.e., 108 and 1010. The disease was controlled 70 to 77% as compared to control. It was concluded that the characters as plant height, panicle length, number of tillers, and number of grains per panicle and yield of rice also increased with the application of T. harzianum. T. harzianum may serve an efficient biological agent in rice crop to mitigate the diseases stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many scholars have utilized Bodalal's mathematical model in the development of environmentally friendly building materials to describe the physical diffusion process of volatile organic compounds. In the model, the key to calculating the diffusion coefficient of volatile organic compounds in building materials is the value of the auxiliary parameter α 1 and q. This paper improves the method of solving auxiliary parameter values by using extreme value theory. Several other calculation methods are also presented. The process of solving it is explained in detail, and an example is used to verify its accuracy. As these methods are very easy to learn and easy to implement on a computer, they can greatly reduce error rates, which makes them popular and useful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The volatile-mediated interplay between stressed and non-stressed plants has been described in many studies involving both biotic and abiotic stresses as a one-way channel. However, very little is known about the molecular basis and mechanisms by which volatile organic compounds (VOCs) mediate plant communication between drought-stressed 'emitter' plants and non-stressed 'receiver' neighbours for the defence against impending stress challenges. Aiming to address this in grapevine, this study investigated the effect of two-way VOC exchange between stressed and non-stressed Vitis vinifera L. cv. Shiraz during drought and recovery using four treatments: isolated well-watered (WW) vines, isolated drought-stressed (DS) vines, and co-located DS 'emitter' and WW 'receiver' vines in a growth room. The results obtained from solid-phase microextraction (SPME) gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed a synchronised decline in α-pinene concentration in the co-located treatment vines and higher isoprene levels in the DS emitters compared to the isolated DS vines. Targeted gene expression analysis further identified the over-expression of a key gene, allene oxide synthase (AOS), in the jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis pathway during peak drought in the DS emitter. Transcript expression of chorismate synthase (CHORS) and α-pinene synthase (VvPNaPin1) showed similar trends in the DS emitter. The results suggest that isoprene and α-pinene may be interplant signalling molecules used by grapevine during drought. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a bi-directional interaction in grapevine between the emitters and receivers under drought stress mediated by the JA and terpenoid biosynthesis pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal infection of grape berries (Vitis vinifera) by Botrytis cinerea frequently coincides with harvest, impacting both the yield and quality of grape and wine products. A rapid and non-destructive method for identifying B. cinerea infection in grapes at an early stage prior to harvest is critical to manage loss. In this study, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) crystal was applied as an absorbent material for volatile extraction from B. cinerea infected and healthy grapes in a vineyard, followed by thermal desorption gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The performance of ZIF-8 in regard to absorbing and trapping the targeted volatiles was evaluated with a standard solution of compounds and with a whole bunch of grapes enclosed in a glass container to maintain standard sampling conditions. The results from the sampling methods were then correlated to B. cinerea infection in grapes, as measured and determined by genus-specific antigen quantification. Trace levels of targeted compounds reported as markers of grape B. cinerea infection were successfully detected with in-field sampling. The peak area counts for volatiles 3-octanone, 1-octen-3-one, 3-octanol, and 1-octen-3-ol extracted using ZIF-8 were significantly higher than values achieved using Tenax®-TA from field testing and demonstrated good correlation with B. cinerea infection severities determined by B. cinerea antigen detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are prevalent emissions from a plethora of industries, known for their role in the formation of atmospheric ozone, thus contributing to secondary pollution. Both the United States and the European Union have presented various regulatory measures to mitigate VOC emissions. Nevertheless, the diversity of VOCs, some exhibiting carcinogenic properties, pose substantial challenges in devising comprehensive mitigation strategies. In light of this, the current study focuses on the synthetic rubber manufacturing industry, specifically analyzing VOCs with high emission volumes and elevated Photochemical Ozone Creation Potentials (POCPs). A total of 88 compounds, including PM-57 and TO-14A, were examined in this study. The Active and Passive monitoring methods, two out of the six recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Fenceline monitoring, were employed. For business entity 'A', the Active method revealed the highest emission rates of n-butane (13.5%) and n-Pentane (12.8%). In contrast, the Passive method indicated styrene (9.4%) and toluene (8.1%) as the most prominently emitted compounds. Benzene, though detected at all points ranging from 1~3 µg/m³, is not manipulated in this industry, suggesting potential influence from neighboring enterprises. Compounds such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene demonstrated convertible concentrations using both Active and Passive methods, detected within the range of 0~3 µg/m³. Notably, the average concentrations determined by both methods exhibited remarkable similarity. For business entity 'B', the Active method detected significant levels of n-hexane (45.0%) and methylcyclopentane (14.4%), whereas the Passive method identified high concentrations of n-hexane (37.7%) and isopentane (8.8%). A general pattern emerged where high concentrations were exhibited at points 9, 10, and 11, located within the production area, while points 1, 2, and 3 displayed lower concentrations, likely due to the influence of eastward wind patterns. In terms of compounds with high POCPs, business entity 'A' demonstrated substantial emission of n-butane (38.80%) and n-hexane (27.15%) using the Active method, and toluene (28.62%) and n-hexane (25.23%) via the Passive method. For business entity 'B', n-hexane emerged dominantly, detected at 84.57% using the Active method and 68.85% via the Passive method. This suggests that in the synthetic rubber manufacturing industry, n-hexane should be prioritized in formulating effective emission reduction strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particularly monoaromatic hydrocarbon compounds (MACHs), pose a potential risk to the atmospheric environment and human health. Therefore, the progressive development of efficient detection methodologies is a pertinent need, which is still a challenge at present. In this study, we present a rapid and sensitive method to detect trace amounts of MACHs using a bifunctional SERS composite substrate. We prepared an Au/SiO2 enhanced layer and a porous Cu(OH)2 adsorption layer via microfluidic-assisted gas-liquid interface self-assembly. The composite substrate effectively monitored changes in benzaldehyde using time-varying SERS spectra, and track-specifically identified various VOCs such as benzene, xylene, styrene, and nitrobenzene. In general, the substrate exhibited a rapid response time of 20 s to gaseous benzaldehyde, with a minimum detection concentration of less than 500 ppt. Further experimental assessments revealed an optimum Cu(OH)2 thickness of the surrounding adsorption layer of 150 nm, which can achieve an efficient SERS response to MACHs. Furthermore, the recoverable and reusable property of the composite substrate highlights its practicality. This study presents a straightforward and efficient approach for detecting trace gaseous VOCs using SERS, with significant implications in the designing of SERS substrates for detecting other VOCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an industrial solid waste produced by alumina industry, red mud was modified as support of Pd catalysts for toluene catalytic oxidation in this paper. The xPd/MRM catalysts had high activity for toluene catalytic oxidation, and the 0.3Pd/MRM catalyst showed the best catalytic performance (T50 = 175 °C and T100 = 200 °C). The results indicated that the prepared 0.3Pd/MRM catalyst had more ratio of surface-adsorbed oxygen and Fe3+, rather than MRM and RM, which benefitted to the toluene oxidation. The excessive Pd species and the growth of the PdO nanoparticles negatively affected the catalytic efficiency of toluene. 0.4Pd/MRM activity decreased because of PdO aggregation in the catalyst, which could be confirmed by TEM analysis. The results of XPS, H2-TPR, FT-IR, O2-TPD, and Raman examination revealed that the formation of Pd-O-Fe under the interaction between Fe in MRM and Pd (Pd2+ + Fe 2+ → Pd0 + Fe3+) increased the electron transfer and raised the mobility of surface-adsorbed oxygen. Furthermore, in situ DRIFTS and GC-MS were used to detect intermediate products of catalytic reactions, and the reaction mechanism of catalysts was also studied. The catalytic oxidation of toluene on 0.3Pd/MRM catalyst might have two reaction paths simultaneously. The first reaction path would be toluene → species benzyl → benzaldehyde → benzoic acid → long-chain aldehydes or carboxylic acids → CO2 and H2O. The second reaction path would be toluene → benzene → phenol → long-chain aldehydes or carboxylic acids → CO2 and H2O. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition) is the property of Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition) Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Essential oils (EOs) from medicinal plants have long been used in traditional medicine for their widely known antimicrobial properties and represent a promising reservoir of bioactive compounds against multidrug-resistant pathogens. Endophytes may contribute to the yield and composition of EOs, representing a useful tool for biotechnological applications. In this work, we investigated the genomic basis of this potential contribution. The annotated genomes of four endophytic strains isolated from Origanum vulgare L. were used to obtain KEGG ortholog codes, which were used for the annotation of different pathways in KEGG, and to evaluate whether endophytes might harbor the (complete) gene sets for terpene and/or plant hormone biosynthesis. All strains possessed ortholog genes for the mevalonate-independent pathway (MEP/DOXP), allowing for the production of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) precursors. Ortholog genes for the next steps in terpenoid biosynthesis were scarce. All the strains possess potential plant growth promotion (PGP) ability, as shown by the presence of orthologous genes involved in the biosynthesis of indoleacetic acid. The main contribution of endophytes to the yield and composition of O. vulgare EO very likely resides in their PGP activities and in the biosynthesis of precursors of bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are among of the most important and dangerous pollutants in aquatic environments, which should be removed effectively from aquatic environments due to their high toxicity and adverse effects on human health and other organisms. Among the methods studied on the removal of VOCs, ozonation, Fe/H2O2 and UV/Fe/H2O2 processes have high removal efficiency. In this research, the removal of phenol from the aqueous environment was done by ozonation, Fe/H2O2 and UV/Fe/H2O2 processes on an experimental scale. In order to conduct research on experiments and the effect of interaction between parameters and to determine the optimal conditions, the design of the experiments was carried out using the RSM method. All tests were performed at ambient temperature. Fe2O3 and H2O2 parameters in millimolar and reaction time (minutes) on Fe/H2O2 and UV/Fe/H2O2 processes and pH, ozone gas flow and reaction time parameters for ozonation process were identified as parameters with high effect on removal percentage. Under optimal conditions of the parameters, 99% of phenol was removed from aqueous solutions by the Fe/H2O2 method, 99.3% was removed by the Fenton UV/Fe/H2O2 method, and 99.5% of phenol was removed by the ozonation process. The comparison of Fe/H2O2 and UV/Fe/H2O2 and ozonation processes show that all three processes have the ability to remove volatile organic compounds from wastewater with high efficiency, but the ozonation process will be able to remove pollutants from wastewater in less time than other processes. Using the RSM method, a quadratic equation with a very high correlation coefficient was fitted. The R2 and R2(adj) values of the predicted model for phenol removal in the Fe/H2O2 process were 95.92% and 92.25% respectively, and in the UV/Fe/H2O2 process, 96% and 92.41% and in the ozonation process, 95.78% and 91.99% respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time online monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ambient air is crucial for timely and effective human health protection. Here, we developed an innovative, automated two-staged adsorption/thermal desorption gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) system for real-time online monitoring of 117 regulated volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This system comprised a sampling unit, water management trap, two-staged adsorption/thermal desorption unit, thermoelectric coolers (TECs), and a commercial GC/MS system. By implementing a micro-purge-and-trap (MP & T) step and a two-staged adsorption/thermal desorption unit, the presence of interfering substances was effectively minimized. The utilization of a heart-cutting GC, combined with a single MS detector, facilitated the precise separation and detection of 117 C2–C12 VOCs, while circumventing the identification and coelution challenges commonly associated with traditional GC-FID or GC-FID/MS methods. The performance of our newly developed online system was meticulously optimized and evaluated using standard gas mixtures. Under optimal conditions, we achieved impressive results, with R2 values ≥ 0.9946 for the standard linear curves of all 117 VOCs, demonstrating a precision (RSD) ranging from 0.2% to 6.4%. When applied in the field monitoring, the concentration drifts for 10 ppbv standard gas mixtures were 0.01–5.64% within 24 h. Our study developed a system for online monitoring of 117 atmospheric VOCs with relatively high accuracy and robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the quality (sensory evaluation, microbial enumerate, color, tvb-n (total volatile basic nitrogen), tca-soluble peptide (trichloroacetic acid-soluble peptide), muscle glucose, lactate, total sugar, Bas (Biogenic amines), VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and the microbial dynamic structure in samples stored at 4 °C were evaluated, and the relationship between VOCs and the diversity structure of microorganisms was also discussed. It was determined by sensory evaluation that the shelf life of samples was around 8 days. Protein and sugar were detected in large quantities by microorganisms in the later stage. At the same time, this also caused a large amount of Bas (biogenic amines) (tyramine, cadaverine, and putrescine). According to high-throughput amplicon sequencing, the initial microbiota of samples was mainly composed of Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Planifilum, Vagococcus, Hafnia, Mycobacterium, Thauera, and Yersinia. Among them, Pseudomonas was the most advantageous taxon of samples at the end of the shelf life. The minor fraction of the microbial consortium consisting of Vagococcus, Acinetobacter and Myroides was detected. The substances 3-methyl-1-butanol, ethyl acetate, and acetone were the main volatile components. The glucose, lactic acid, and total sugar were negatively correlated with Yersinia, Hafnia-Obesumbacterium, Thauera, Mycobacterium, and Planifilum; the proportion of these microorganisms was relatively high in the early stage. TVB-N and TCA-soluble peptides were positively correlated with Pseudomonas, Shewanella, Brochothrix, Vagococcus, Myroides, and Acinetobacter, and these microorganisms increased greatly in the later stage. The substance 3-methyl-1-butanol was positively correlated with Pseudomonas and negatively correlated with Mycobacterium. Ethyl acetate was associated with Hafnia-Obesumbacterium, Thauera, and Yersinia. Acetone was positively correlated with Acinetobacter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the presented research work was to determine and analyze emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from experimental lightweight wood fiber insulation board produced in dry technology. Until now, there have been no rigid insulation materials made of wood fibers produced in such low density and made in dry technology. Among the typical parameters such as thermal conductivity and the mechanical performance of the lightweight board, attention was also paid to their influence on indoor air quality. Therefore, an attempt was made to determine the kind of substances emitting from wood fiber insulation boards produced at defined production parameters as well as the dynamics of emission reduction over time. Additionally, the influence of fire retardants used for protection against lightweight wood fiberboard fires on the emission of VOCs was analyzed. Tests on VOC emissions were carried out using the chamber method according to the applicable ISO 16000 standards. The main components emitting from lightweight insulation fiberboards were acetic acid and aldehydes such as pentanal, hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, decanal, furfural, and benzaldehyde. The percentage of acetic acid in total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) was within the limits of 17% to 65%. From the aldehydes group, the most concerning substance was furfural due to a very strict limit value. In the presented research, depending on the variant, the emission of furfural was from 0 up to 10 µg/m3 after 28 days of measurement. Other substances such as terpenes or aromatic hydrocarbons were at a very low level. The reduction in VOCs over a period of 28 days was significant in most cases from 22% up to 61%. The tests carried out also showed a substantial impact of fire retardant, used in the production of lightweight insulation fiberboard, on the emission of VOCs from fiberboards, and thus on their quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to their facile reactants migration channels, large surface area, maximized exposure of reaction sites and efficient light utilization, three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) materials have been extensively adopted in environmental fields such as pollutants removal, environmental detection as well as bacterial disinfection. In this review, the up-to-date 3DOM materials, the corresponding synthesis protocols and the related environmental applications involving photo electrocatalytic pollutants decomposition, thermocatalytic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) elimination, hazardous substances sensing and bacteria inactivation are completely presented. Simultaneously, the inherent advantages and mechanisms of 3DOM materials in different environmental utilization are thoroughly demonstrated and summarized. Furthermore, the improved performance of environmental applications and the methods of fabricating 3DOM materials are correlated in depth, being favorable for readers to obtain the fundamental knowledge and to motivate some innovative thoughts for modifying 3DOM materials with further elevated environmental remediation capability. Finally, the current difficulties and prospects of 3DOM materials for large-scale and commercial applications are outlooked. This critical review is anticipated to promote the optimization of 3DOM materials and to ripen the related environmental remediation techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions were measured from Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell and T cell bioreactor gas exhaust lines with the goal of non-invasively metabolically profiling the expansion process. Measurements of cellular 'breath' were made directly from the gas exhaust lines using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-coated magnetic stir bars, which underwent subsequent thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) analysis. Baseline VOC profiles were observed from bioreactors filled with only liquid media. After inoculation, unique VOC profiles correlated to cell expansion over the course of 8 d. Partial least squares (PLS) regression models were built to predict cell culture density based on VOC profiles of CHO and T cells (R 2 = 0.671 and R 2 = 0.769, respectively, based on a validation data set). T cell runs resulted in 47 compounds relevant to expansion while CHO cell runs resulted in 45 compounds; the 20 most relevant compounds of each cell type were putatively identified. On the final experimental days, sorbent-covered stir bars were placed directly into cell-inoculated media and into media controls. Liquid-based measurements from spent media containing cells could be distinguished from media-only controls, indicating soluble VOCs excreted by the cells during expansion. A PLS-discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) was performed, and 96 compounds differed between T cell-inoculated media and media controls with 72 compounds for CHO cells; the 20 most relevant compounds of each cell line were putatively identified. This work demonstrates that the volatilome of cell cultures can be exploited by chemical detectors in bioreactor gas and liquid waste lines to non-invasively monitor cellular health and could possibly be used to optimize cell expansion conditions 'on-the-fly' with appropriate control loop systems. Although the basis for statistical models included compounds without certain identification, this work provides a foundation for future research of bioreactor emissions. Future studies must move towards identifying relevant compounds for understanding of underlying biochemistry.

Understanding how plant carbon metabolism responds to environmental variables such as light is central to understanding ecosystem carbon cycling and the production of food, biofuels, and biomaterials. Here, we couple a portable leaf photosynthesis system to an autosampler for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to enable field observations of net photosynthesis simultaneously with emissions of VOCs as a function of light. Following sample collection, VOCs are analyzed using automated thermal desorption-gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). An example is presented from a banana plant in the central Amazon with a focus on the response of photosynthesis and the emissions of eight individual monoterpenes to light intensity. Our observations reveal that banana leaf emissions represent a 1.1 +/- 0.1% loss of photosynthesis by carbon. Monoterpene emissions from banana are dominated by trans-β-ocimene, which accounts for up to 57% of total monoterpene emissions at high light. We conclude that the developed system is ideal for the identification and quantification of VOC emissions from leaves in parallel with CO2 and water fluxes.The system therefore permits the analysis of biological and environmental sensitivities of carbon metabolism in leaves in remote field locations, resulting in the emission of hydrocarbons to the atmosphere.•A field-portable system is developed for the identification and quantification of VOCs from leaves in parallel with leaf physiological measurements including photosynthesis and transpiration.•The system will enable the characterization of carbon and energy allocation to the biosynthesis and emission of VOCs linked with photosynthesis (e.g. isoprene and monoterpenes) and their biological and environmental sensitivities (e.g. light, temperature, CO2).•Allow the development of more accurate mechanistic global VOC emission models linked with photosynthesis, improving our ability to predict how forests will respond to climate change. It is our hope that the presented system will contribute with critical data towards these goals across Earth's diverse tropical forests.

In Yaeum-dong, a residential area near the industrial complex, SIFT-MS, which enables real-time continuous measurement, was used to identify the characteristics of VOCs and odorous substances. When looking at the concentrations by chemical substance group, aliphatic hydrocarbons accounted for a significant portion, showing different characteristics from other large cities. This indicates that the Yaeum-dong area is directly affected by the emission source of the nearby petrochemical complex. As an individual substance, ammonia showed the highest concentration among HAPs. Seasonal HAPs concentrations generally tended to be high in summer and low in winter. When examining concentrations by time of day, it showed characteristics of industrial areas affected by VOCs scattered and volatilized in national industrial complexes. In addition, it was confirmed that the characteristics of urban areas appearing in general metropolitan traffic congestion zones appeared at the same time. Compared with the results of other previous studies, in general, there was no significant difference in concentrations from the results of measurements in residential areas near petrochemical complexes. And it showed a much lower concentrations than the measured value in industrial complex. As a result of CPF analysis for estimating the source of pollutants, most HAPs showed high concentrations in the south wind direction, indicating that the measurement point was affected by the industrial complex.

Hypercrosslinked polymers(HCPs) were prepared by cashew nut shell liquid(CNSL), an agricultural by-product, as a raw material, using external cross-linker method and solvent cross-linker method, and named F-HCP and C-HCP, respectively. The adsorption properties of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) on F-HCP and C-HCP were investigated. The prepared adsorbent was characterized by infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis(TGA), N2 adsorption and scanning electron microscopy(SEM). The adsorption properties of six kinds of VOCs on F-HCP and C-HCP were investigated by static adsorption method. The o-xylene was used as a typical VOC for dynamic adsorption, and the influence of inlet concentration on adsorption was investigated. The results show that F-HCP has higher static adsorption performance than C-HCP, and the static adsorption capacities of o-xylene, toluene, cyclohexane, n-hexane, methyl ethyl ketone, and acetone on F-HCP are 930, 801, 300, 214, 203 mg·g-1and 164 mg·g-1, respectively. At the inlet concentration of 2171 mg·m-3 for o-xylene, the dynamic adsorption capacity of F-HCP and C-HCP for o-xylene is 149 mg·g-1 and 146 mg·g-1, respectively. The equilibrium adsorption capacity increases with the increase of the inlet gas concentration. The cyclic regeneration adsorption experiments indicate that the adsorption capacity of C-HCP after five cycles of adsorption is 93.9% of the first adsorption capacity.